Bridge for violins or similar instruments.



No. 693,643.. Patented Feb. |8, 1902.

A. HURLEY. BRIDGE FOB VIULINSOR SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.

(Application filed. July 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

- WITNESSES: mvpzmon @M-M M Q v BY J AeW annals PEIERS co ARTHUR HURLEY, OF- TONDU, ENGLAND.

BRIDGE FOR VIOLINS OR SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.

srEcrFrcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,648, dated. February 18, 1902. Application filed July 23, 1901. Serial No. 69,452. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR H URLEY, a sub ing is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled-in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a bridge for a violin or similar instrument which is of improved construction and by means of which the tone of the instrument is improved.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated 'by the same reference characters in each of the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a bridge made according to my invention; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1,showing another form of construction, and Fig. at a section on the line 4. 4. of Fig. 3.

In the practice of my invention, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide a bridge for a violin or similar instrument comprising a base portion 5 and a top portion 6, the line of division between said portions being at 7 T he top portion 6 of my improved bridge is composed of separate parts, four of which are shown in Fig. 1, and the grain of the wood from which these parts are formed converges toward a common point ator near the center of the bottom portion 5 of the bridge. In practice each of the parts of the top portion of the bridge is adapted to support one of the strings of the instrument and the point of convergence of the grain of the wood from which the parts of the top of the bridge are made should beas near as possible to the soundingboard of the instrument. By means of this construction the vibrations of the strings of the instrument are conveyed longitudinally along the grainof the Wood of the top portion ofthe bridge, and the tone .of the said vibrations is materially. improved. The grain of the bottom portion 5 ofthe bridge runs 1ongitudinally thereof or at an angle to the grain of the separate parts of the top portion of the producing the desired result.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the top portion of the bridge which supports the strings is composed of four pieces 8, 9, 10, and 11, while in the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4the said top portion of the bridge is composed of a similar number of pieces arrangedas shown at 12, 13, 14, and 15, the grain of these pieces converging toward a common point at 16. In this form of con struction the base or bottom portion 17 of thebridge is provided with upwardly and outwardly directed side members 18, which extend upwardly to the upper side corners of the bridge, and the top or crown portion of the bridge,which supports the strings and consists of the parts 12, 13, 14, and 15, is substantially triangular in shape. The grain of the wood from which the bottom portion 17 of the bridge is made runs horizontally, as in the construction shown in Fig. 1, and the operation will be substantially the same as that shown in said figure.

In each of the forms of construction herein shown and described the body of the top por= tion of the bridge is preferably provided with transverse holes or openings 19, which are arranged at the points where the separate parts,

thereof are connected, and this construction also adds to the tone of the vibrations, and the separate parts of the bridge may be connected in any desired manner.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bridge for a violin'or similar instrument composed of top and bottom portions of wood, the grain of the bottom portion running horizontally while the grain of the top portion converges toward the center of the bottom portion, substantially as shown and described.

2. A bridge for violins or similar instruments, comprising a bottom portion composed of wood, the grain of which runs horizontally, and a top portion composed of wood, and of separate pieces so arranged that the grain thereof converges toward the center of the bottom portion, substantially as shown and described.

bridge, and this arrangement also assists in 3. A bridge for violins and similar instru- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 10 ments, composed of top and bottom portions my invention I have signed my naine,inpresof Wood, the grain of the Wood of the bottom ence of the subscribing witnesses, this 13th portion being arranged horizontally and the day of May, 1901. top portion being composed of separate pieces r s 7' secured together and to the bottom portion, ARTHUR HURLILX' and the grain of the wood of which converges \Vitnesses: toward the center of the bottom portion, snb- FRED W. GLOSSOP,

stantially as shown and described. ERNEST L. PHILLIPS. 

